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Thursday, February 26, 2026

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1 hour ago
William Upton
Economy
TECH

Jack Dorsey’s Block, Inc. Laying Off Almost 50 Percent of Workforce Because of AI.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Block, Inc., the San Francisco-based technology company formerly known as Square—which owns Cash App—and founded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey, announced on Thursday that it is laying off nearly half of its workforce.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jack Dorsey, Jim McKelvey, Block, Inc. employees, Square, Cash App, and artificial intelligence tools.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Thursday, February 26, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’re not making this decision because we’re in trouble. Our business is strong… but something has changed. We’re already seeing that the intelligence tools we’re creating and using, paired with smaller and flatter teams, are enabling a new way of working which fundamentally changes what it means to build and run a company.” — Jack Dorsey

🎯IMPACT: According to Dorsey, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), over 4,000 of the company’s approximately 10,000 employees will be impacted by the layoffs, with their workloads apparently being replaced by artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

IN FULL

Block, Inc., the San Francisco-based technology company formerly known as Square—which owns Cash App—and founded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey, announced on Thursday that it is laying off nearly half of its workforce. According to Dorsey, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), over 4,000 of the company’s approximately 10,000 employees will be impacted by the layoffs, with their workloads apparently being replaced by artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

“Today we’re making one of the hardest decisions in the history of our company: We’re reducing our organization by nearly half, from over 10,000 people to just under 6,000. that means over 4,000 of you are being asked to leave or entering into consultation,” Dorsey wrote in a message to Block employees. The former Twitter CEO went on to explain, “We’re not making this decision because we’re in trouble. Our business is strong… but something has changed. We’re already seeing that the intelligence tools we’re creating and using, paired with smaller and flatter teams, are enabling a new way of working which fundamentally changes what it means to build and run a company.”

Notably, Block, Inc.’s stock value surged on the news, jumping over 20 percent in after-market trading. Dorsey stated, “I had two options: cut gradually over months or years as this shift plays out, or be honest about where we are and act on it now. I chose the latter. Repeated rounds of cuts are destructive to morale, to focus, and to the trust that customers and shareholders place in our ability to lead.”

“I’d rather take a hard, clear action now and build from a position we believe in than manage a slow reduction of people toward the same outcome. A smaller company also gives us the space to grow our business the right way, on our own terms, instead of constantly reacting to market pressures,” he wrote.

The National Pulse’s Editor-in-Chief Raheem Kassam, during a segment on Stephen K. Bannon’s WarRoom show earlier on Thursday, warned regarding the rapidly changing AI environment and its likely impact on the American workforce, saying, “We are reaching an inflection point in the course of human history. You may not have to go sit at your desk and do your 9-5 every day. You may get a Moltbot that can make money for you while you luxuriate and enjoy the world. Or, you will be made extinct.”


In October of last year, The National Pulse reported that Amazon was looking to automate a significant portion of its operations, potentially allowing the company to avoid hiring over 600,000 U.S. workers by 2033. Leaked internal documents reveal that the Jeff Bezos-owned company aims to automate 75 percent of its operations, potentially saving $12.6 billion between 2025 and 2027.

Earlier this month, the leader of the Safeguards Research Team for Anthropic‘s Claude chatbot abruptly resigned, issuing a bizarre, poetry-laden letter that warned of a world “in peril.” Mrinank Sharma, who led the safety team since its inception in 2023, also indicated in his letter that internal pressure to ignore artificial intelligence (AI) safety protocols played a significant role in his decision to resign.

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18 minutes ago
Immigration
Lawfare

Judge Rules IRS Illegally Shared Taxpayer Data 43,000 Times.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge ruled that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) illegally shared nearly 43,000 taxpayer addresses with U.S. immigration officials.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued on Thursday in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The IRS not only failed to ensure that ICE’s request for confidential taxpayer address information met the statutory requirements, but this failure led the IRS to disclose confidential taxpayer addresses to ICE in situations where ICE’s request for that information was patently deficient.” – Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly

🎯IMPACT: Judge Kollar-Kotelly has been one of several District Court judges enabling Democrat lawfare efforts to hinder President Donald J. Trump’s agenda. Last April, the judge blocked part of an election integrity Executive Order issued by President Trump requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.

IN FULL

U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly—elevated by former President Bill Clinton but first appointed to the bench by former President Ronald Reagan—ruled on Thursday that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) unlawfully granted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) access to around 43,000 addresses contained in its records. The disclosure, according to the federal government, was part of an effort to integrate and share data across agencies.

“In other words, the IRS not only failed to ensure that ICE’s request for confidential taxpayer address information met the statutory requirements, but this failure led the IRS to disclose confidential taxpayer addresses to ICE in situations where ICE’s request for that information was patently deficient,” Judge Kollar-Kotelly wrote in her ruling. The decision is a significant blow to the Trump administration’s efforts to streamline intra-federal government data sharing, especially when it pertains to information that could assist federal immigration officials with identifying and detaining illegal immigrants.

Kollar-Kotelly’s ruling follows an earlier order issued by the judge in November that prohibited the Trump White House’s data-sharing policies. Notably, that ruling has been appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

The National Pulse previously reported that Judge Kollar-Kotelly has been one of several District Court judges enabling Democrat lawfare efforts to hinder President Donald J. Trump’s agenda. Last April, the judge blocked part of an election integrity Executive Order issued by President Trump requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
News

‘We’ve Had Enough’ — Tampa Airport Pushes Pajamas Ban.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Tampa International Airport (TPA) suggested a ban on pajamas in a viral social media post.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Tampa International Airport’s official @FlyTPA account on X and social media users.

📍WHEN & WHERE: February 26, 2026, at Tampa International Airport.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The madness stops today. The movement starts now.” – Tampa International Airport

🎯IMPACT: The post sparked widespread amusement and debate online.

IN FULL

Tampa International Airport (TPA) is pushing for a ban on pajamas, following a previous push to ban Crocs. Writing on its official @FlyTPA account on X, the airport declared: “We’ve seen enough. We’ve had enough. It’s time to ban pajamas at Tampa International Airport.”

This follows a previous “ban” on Crocs shoes, with TPA claiming to be the “world’s first Crocs-free airport” and now aspiring to be both “Crocs-free AND pajama-free.”

“We know this decision could be disruptive to someone in your life. It’s time to have a difficult conversation with them. You can do this. We (and Phoebe) believe in you. The madness stops today. The movement starts now,” the post read.

TPA’s message concluded with a rallying cry: “DO YOUR PART. SAY NO TO PAJAMAS AT TPA.” The post quickly gained traction, garnering tens of thousands of likes, reposts, and comments, as users shared their thoughts on appropriate airport attire. While some defended comfort, others supported the idea of maintaining decorum.

TPA has confirmed that this is not an enforceable policy, and no firm changes to the dress code or enforcement measures have been put in place.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
Politics

Chris LaCivita Picks Up Another Client Trump Refused to Endorse in the Primary.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Idaho Governor Brad Little (R) announced on Thursday that he has hired former Trump campaign chief and Republican National Committee (RNC) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Chris LaCivita as a senior advisor.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Gov. Brad Little, Chris LaCivita, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Thursday, February 26. 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I’m excited to announce that [Chris LaCivita] has joined my re-election campaign as senior advisor.” — Brad Little

🎯IMPACT: Notably, Gov. Little was not endorsed by President Donald Trump during his 2021 primary run, with the America First leader instead backing then-Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin (R-ID).

IN FULL

Idaho Governor Brad Little (R) announced on Thursday that he has hired former Trump campaign chief and Republican National Committee (RNC) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Chris LaCivita as a senior advisor. Notably, LaCivita—who has recently attacked a number of President Donald J. Trump’s long-time supporters, including calling the Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse an “illegal immigrant“—is also serving as a senior advisor to Senator John Cornyn‘s (R-TX) re-election campaign. Despite pro-Cornyn campaign groups spending millions on the U.S. Senate primary race in Texas, the anti-Trump incumbent has fallen to a distant second place—and even third place—in most polls ahead of the March 3 primary.

“I’m excited to announce that [Chris LaCivita] has joined my re-election campaign as senior advisor,” Little wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Notably, Gov. Little was not endorsed by President Donald J. Trump during his 2021 primary run, with the America First leader instead backing then-Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin (R-ID). However, late last year, Trump did back Little’s re-election bid.

The National Pulse reported last week that LaCivita abandoned a major defamation lawsuit against the left-wing Daily Beast after the outlet published a stunning report about him gouging nearly $20M from the campaign’s coffers. “The consulting firm of Donald Trump’s White House campaign’s co-manager has raked in $19.2 million and counting from the Republican nominee’s political operation in just two years,” the Beast reported in late 2024.

The Daily Beast did not retract or even have to change any part of its story. It also offered no apology or cash payment, both of which are common in settlements.

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3 hours ago
Crime

Another Victim of Transgender Ice Rink Shooter Dies.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A grandfather, Gerald “Gerry” Dorgan, became the third person to succumb to their injuries following a mass shooting at a youth hockey game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, carried out by his daughter’s transgender ex-husband, Robert Dorgan.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Gerald Dorgan, his daughter Rhonda Dorgan, and his grandson Aidan Dorgan were killed. Robert Dorgan, who also went by Roberta Esposito, was the shooter and took his own life after the shootings. Several others, including Gerald’s wife Linda Dorgan and Thomas Geruso, were injured.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The shooting occurred on February 16, 2026, at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victim’s family, friends, and all those impacted by this tragic act of violence.” – Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien

🎯IMPACT: The National Pulse previously reported that Robert Dorgan had a history of family conflicts tied to his gender identity.

IN FULL

Gerald “Gerry” Dorgan, 75, has died after being critically injured in a mass shooting at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The shooting, carried out by his transgender ex-son-in-law, Robert Dorgan, targeted Gerald’s family members during a youth hockey game on February 16, 2026.

The attack also claimed the lives of Gerald’s daughter, Rhonda Dorgan, 52, and grandson, Aidan Dorgan, 23. Two others, Linda Dorgan—Gerald’s wife—and Thomas Geruso remain hospitalized in serious but stable condition. Robert Dorgan, a male-to-female transgender who also went by the names Roberta Esposito and Roberta Dorgano, was reportedly targeting his family and died by suicide after being subdued by bystanders.

Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien (D) expressed his condolences, saying, “Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victim’s family, friends, and all those impacted by this tragic act of violence.” Police confirmed the motive stemmed from a family dispute. The National Pulse previously reported that Robert Dorgan had a history of family conflicts tied to his gender identity. In 2020, he reported to North Providence police that he had undergone gender reassignment surgery, after which Gerald Dorgan demanded he leave the family home and used a derogatory term for transgenders. According to his daughter, Amanda Wallace-Hubbard, Robert Dorgan had a “vendetta” against his family.

Bystanders, including Michael Black, played a critical role in stopping the shooter. Black managed to jam the gun’s chamber with his hand and tackled Dorgan with assistance from others. Despite their efforts, Dorgan retrieved a second firearm and took his own life.

Image by Oriel Frankie Ashcroft.

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By Popular Demand.
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4 hours ago
William Upton
News

Ken Paxton Secures ‘First-of-Its-Kind’ Antitrust Settlement Against Vanguard for ESG Practices.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) announced that the Vanguard Group has agreed to a “first-of-its-kind settlement”—effectively ending its defense in a multi-state antitrust lawsuit targeting the company along with BlackRock and State Street, alleging coordinated environmental, social, and governance (ESG)-driven market manipulation.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ken Paxton, Vanguard Group, BlackRock, State Street, corporate shareholders, asset management clients, and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The settlement was announced on February 26, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “While Vanguard has taken appropriate action to resolve this case, BlackRock and State Street have continued to ignore state laws, engage in anticompetitive schemes that hurt American energy, and undermine those who use their services to invest.” — Ken Paxton

🎯IMPACT: The decision by Vanguard to settle the case likely signals significant trouble for the asset management company’s former co-defendants, and, according to Paxton’s office, could mark a final ruling that “fundamentally resets the precedent for the conduct of large institutional investors.”

IN FULL

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) announced that the Vanguard Group has agreed to a “first-of-its-kind settlement”—effectively ending its defense in a multi-state antitrust lawsuit targeting the company along with BlackRock and State Street, alleging coordinated environmental, social, and governance (ESG)-driven market manipulation. The decision by Vanguard to settle the case likely signals significant trouble for the asset management company’s former co-defendants, and, according to Paxton’s office, could mark a final ruling that “fundamentally resets the precedent for the conduct of large institutional investors.”

“I am glad to see that Vanguard has chosen to protect investors and become the industry leader when it comes to empowering investors with proxy voting choice. This sets a new standard for institutional investors that every company should follow,” Paxton said, adding, “While Vanguard has taken appropriate action to resolve this case, BlackRock and State Street have continued to ignore state laws, engage in anticompetitive schemes that hurt American energy, and undermine those who use their services to invest.”

The antitrust litigation centers around allegations that “a BlackRock-led cartel that sought to drive up the price of coal under the guise of ‘green energy,'” and that “BlackRock’s efforts produced massive profits for itself and its co-conspirators and raised the prices of electricity on consumers throughout the United States.” The Texas Attorney General’s office further asserts that “To further profit on the back of Americans, BlackRock also deceived thousands of its investors who elected to invest in non-ESG funds.”

Importantly, as part of its settlement, Vanguard has agreed to no longer pursue an ESG agenda over profit motive for its clients. According to the Texas Attorney General, “Vanguard will not use its shareholdings to (a) direct its portfolio companies’ business strategies, (b) threaten its portfolio companies that it will withdraw from its holdings unless they agree to act (or not act) in some manner, or (c) nominate directors or shareholder proposals to its portfolio companies.” In addition, the company will pay $29.5 million in fines.

Notably, Paxton’s legal action against three asset management companies—with BlackRock as the primary defendant—was backed by the Trump administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division and former Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater. However, following Slater’s ouster after a push by Republican lobbyist Mike Davis, who represented several clients under scrutiny for anticompetitive conduct, it is unclear where the department stands on Paxton’s litigation.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
World

Rubio Doesn’t Trust Cuba’s ‘Highly Unusual’ Account of Deadly Shootout With U.S. Boat.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Cuba’s border guard engaged in a shootout with a U.S.-registered fishing boat, leaving four dead and six wounded. The incident is under investigation by both Cuban and U.S. authorities.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Cuban border guard forces, the U.S.-registered fishing boat’s occupants, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President J.D. Vance.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred on Wednesday in Cuban territorial waters. Rubio addressed the matter while in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Suffice it to say, it is highly unusual to see shootouts in the open sea like that. It’s not something that happens every day.” – Marco Rubio

🎯IMPACT: The U.S. is evaluating the facts before responding, while Cuba claims the fishing boat aimed to carry out terrorist activities.

IN FULL

Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed an alleged shootout between Cuba’s border guard and a U.S.-registered fishing boat, calling the situation “highly unusual.” President Donald J. Trump’s Secretary of State emphasized the need for the U.S. to evaluate the facts before issuing a response. Speaking from Saint Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday, Rubio stated, “We’re not going to base our conclusions on what they’ve told us. And I’m very, very confident that we will know the full story of what happened here, and we will know it soon.”

“Suffice it to say, it is highly unusual to see shootouts in the open sea like that. It’s not something that happens every day,” Rubio added.

The National Pulse reported on Wednesday that Cuba’s Interior Ministry stated its border guard shot four dead and wounded six others aboard the 1981 Pro-Line 24-foot center-console fishing boat. The ministry claimed the boat carried ten armed individuals intending to conduct an infiltration for terrorist purposes. Among the deceased was Michel Ortega Casanova, while seven others have been identified, including Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez. The ministry also alleged that those aboard had a history of criminal activity and were Cuban nationals residing in the U.S.

Rubio refused to speculate on potential consequences for Cuba, stating that more analysis was required. Vice President J.D. Vance, who was briefed on the matter by Rubio, echoed the sentiment, saying, “Hopefully it’s not as bad as we fear it could be, but I can’t say more because I just don’t know more.”

Cuba’s Interior Ministry claimed that weapons, bulletproof vests, and camouflage uniforms were found aboard the vessel. The Cuban Embassy in the U.S. alleged that the fishing boat crew fired on Cuban personnel, injuring their commander. “Cuba reaffirms its determination to protect its territorial waters,” the embassy stated.

The vessel, registered in Florida, was reported stolen by its Miami-based owner, who is not considered a suspect.

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By Popular Demand.
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6 hours ago
William Upton
Immigration
Lawfare

Trump Admin Again Asks Supreme Court to End Lower Court Lawfare Against Deportations.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has filed a request with the U.S. Supreme Court to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Syrian nationals.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump’s administration, the U.S. Supreme Court, and lower courts across the country.

📍WHEN & WHERE: February 26, 2026, in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This application marks the third time that the government has been compelled to seek a stay from this Court after lower Courts have baselessly blocked the Secretary of Homeland Security’s determinations regarding Temporary Protected Status (TPS) just before they took effect.” — Trump administration filing

🎯IMPACT: The administration argues that lower courts have overstepped their authority, delaying the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) decisions.

IN FULL

The Trump administration is once again having to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to end lower court lawfare efforts hampering executive branch powers to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for certain groups of foreign nationals. In filings made on Thursday, the administration is seeking to appeal a lower court’s stay on ending TPS for Syrians. By removing the stay ruling, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would be cleared to begin facilitating the return of Syrian nationals temporarily allowed to reside in the U.S. to their home country.

“This application marks the third time that the government has been compelled to seek a stay from this Court after lower Courts have baselessly blocked the Secretary of Homeland Security’s determinations regarding Temporary Protected Status (TPS) just before they took effect,” the Trump administration states in its filing with the Supreme Court. “The lower courts’ arrogation of core Executive Branch prerogatives irreparably harms the government, and respondents’ alleged harms were inherent in the temporary nature of the program that Congress designed.”

The National Pulse reported last May that the Trump administration was forced to go to the Supreme Court to end a lower court’s block on ending TPS for Venezuelan nationals. In August of last year, U.S. District Court Judge Trina L. Thompson ruled against the administration’s decision to terminate TPS designations for approximately 60,000 immigrants from Nepal, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The judge alleged that the administration’s decision was influenced by discriminatory beliefs, including the notion that non-white immigrant groups could replace white Americans.

Subsequently, the Trump administration’s decision to end TPS for Haitian nationals was blocked by U.S. District Court Judge Ana Reyes, appointed by former President Joe Biden, earlier this month. Judge Reyes, a Harvard-educated Uruguayan immigrant, admitted that the TPS statute limits judicial review of the substantive decisions on country designations, but argued she could intervene regardless to examine whether the administrative process followed proper procedures.

Image by Billy Wilson.

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7 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
Election Integrity
UK

Britain is Holding a Key Special Election Today. Voter ID is Required.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A parliamentary by-election (special election) in England on Thursday will be subject to voter ID requirements.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The British government, the Electoral Commission, and voters in Britain.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Voter ID requirements were introduced by the Elections Act 2022, affecting today’s Gorton and Denton by-election in Manchester, England.

💬KEY QUOTE: “At least 50,000 voters were initially turned away at polling stations [during the] 2024 general election, with 34,000 returning. This meant 16,000 did not return.” – House of Commons Library research briefing

🎯IMPACT: Britain’s in-person voting is more secure than America’s although Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s governing Labour Party is moving to weaken existing safeguards, and postal (mail-in) voting on-demand remains highly vulnerable.

IN FULL

Voters in the Gorton and Denton constituency (electoral district) in Greater Manchester, England, are heading to the polls for a by-election (special election) to choose a new Member of Parliament (MP), in what is expected to be a tight contest between Matt Goodwin, representing Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, and far-left candidates for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s ruling Labour Party and the Greens. Unlike in the United States, voters will be required to present a valid ID.

The Elections Act 2022 made photo ID compulsory for in-person voting in British Parliament elections and in English and Northern Irish local and regional elections, although Northern Ireland had required photo ID for much longer, with basic ID checks starting in 1985 and photo ID specifically mandated since 2003 to address concerns about electoral fraud. Elections to the Scottish Parliament or the Senedd (Welsh Parliament)—roughly equivalent to U.S. state legislatures—do not have voter ID requirements, nor do most of those countries’ local elections, which are subject to weaker regional regulations set by leftist regional governments.

Acceptable forms of photo ID are broad, including passports, driving licences, and bus passes. The document must be original (not a photocopy or photo on a phone), but it can be expired as long as the photo still resembles the voter reasonably well. For those without a suitable ID, the government provides a free Voter Authority Certificate (VAC), which serves as an alternative form of photo ID. Applications can be made online or through local electoral offices.

Implementation has generally been smooth administratively, with low numbers of people ultimately unable to vote. According to a House of Commons Library research briefing, “At least 50,000 voters were initially turned away at polling stations [during the] 2024 general election, with 34,000 returning. This meant 16,000 did not return.” This suggests the regulations have thwarted some fraudulent voters.

The rules were introduced by the formerly governing Conservative (Tory) Party, with the incumbent Labour Party opposed to them. Labour, under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, now says it will not abolish the ID requirements, but does plan to expand the list of acceptable IDs in the future, potentially including bank cards, which the Electoral Commission has flagged as a safety risk.

As in the United States, mail-in or postal voting on demand remains a significant vulnerability, with historic cases of fraud on an “industrial scale” in Labour-voting Muslim communities. Judge Richard Mawrey QC, sitting as an election commissioner in one case, found that the postal voting system was “wide open to fraud and any would-be political fraudster knows that it’s wide open to fraud,” and would “disgrace a banana republic.”

Notably, Mawrey warned ahead of the 2020 elections in the United States that American mail-in voting has even fewer safeguards than British postal voting and could “easily” be rigged.

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8 hours ago
NatSec
News
TECH

Massive Data Breach Exposes 26 MILLION Social Security Numbers.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The social security numbers of at least 26 million Americans were exposed in a major data breach involving Conduent, a company managing data for corporations, healthcare providers, and state agencies.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Conduent, an unauthorized third party, and impacted Americans across multiple states, including Texas, Oregon, Delaware, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The breach occurred between October 21, 2024, and January 13, 2025, affecting individuals nationwide.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If any insurance giant cut corners or has information that could help us prevent breaches like this in the future, I will work to uncover it. My office is committed to uncovering exactly what went wrong, taking action to protect Texas families, and ensuring there is justice for any negligence.” – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton

🎯IMPACT: The breach exposed sensitive personal information, including social security numbers and health records, with long-term risks for affected individuals.

IN FULL

The personal data of at least 26 million Americans has been exposed in what has been described as the largest data breach in U.S. history. Conduent, a company that handles sensitive information for corporations, healthcare providers, and state agencies, confirmed that an unauthorized third party accessed its systems between October 21, 2024, and January 13, 2025.

Over 15 million residents in Texas were affected, along with more than 10 million individuals in Oregon and hundreds of thousands in other states, including Delaware, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Notifications sent to those affected revealed that compromised data may have included names, Social Security numbers, medical information, and health insurance details. Conduent clarified that not all data elements were present for every individual.

While the breach was discovered on January 13, 2025, Conduent stated that it is unaware of any misuse of the stolen information at this time. Affected individuals have been notified, and a dedicated phone line has been set up to address questions and concerns at (855) 291-2605. The company emphasized that its network was secured, law enforcement was notified, and operations were safely restored following the incident.

Safepay, a ransomware group, has claimed responsibility for the attack, reportedly obtaining over eight terabytes of data. While it remains unclear if a ransom has been demanded, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) stated, “If any insurance giant cut corners or has information that could help us prevent breaches like this in the future, I will work to uncover it. My office is committed to uncovering exactly what went wrong, taking action to protect Texas families, and ensuring there is justice for any negligence.”

Experts warn that the long-term impact of this breach could be severe, as social security numbers and health records cannot be easily changed like credit card details. Affected individuals are advised to place credit freezes with major bureaus such as Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, request fraud alerts on their credit files, and monitor bank statements and credit reports for suspicious activity.

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8 hours ago
William Upton
Lawfare

The Biden DOJ and Jack Smith ‘Arctic Frost’ Scandal Just Got a Lot Worse.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) under former President Joe Biden subpoenaed the phone records of now-FBI Director Kash Patel and now-White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles during the Arctic Frost investigation into President Donald J. Trump and his allies.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Kash Patel, Susie Wiles, Joe Biden’s FBI leadership, and special counsel Jack Smith.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Subpoenas were issued in 2022 and 2023 during the Biden government.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It is outrageous and deeply alarming that the previous FBI leadership secretly subpoenaed my own phone records—along with those of now-White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.” – Kash Patel

🎯IMPACT: At least ten FBI employees were dismissed, and the FBI ended the ability to categorize certain files as “prohibited.”

IN FULL

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as part of the former Biden government’s Arctic Frost investigation of President Donald J. Trump, subpoenaed the phone records of now-FBI Director Kash Patel and now-White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles in 2022 and 2023, when both were private citizens. Concerningly, it also appears that the FBI recorded conversations between Wiles and her attorney. While the latter granted the bureau permission to do so, Florida is a two-party consent state, raising concerns that the FBI may have illegally obtained the recordings.

Notably, the FBI’s subpoenas and recording activities occurred as the Biden Department of Justice’s (DOJ) special counsel Jack Smith had taken over the Arctic Frost investigation into President Donald Trump and the Capitol riots on January 6. The National Pulse has previously reported that Smith is accused of abusing his power as special counsel to cast a wide net of subpoenas, including for phone toll records belonging to members of Congress. Subsequently, Smith used friendly judges like James Boasberg and Beryl Howell to attain orders preventing phone carriers from notifying the lawmakers that their records had been subpoenaed.

Even more troubling, it appears the Biden government attempted to hide the phone record files it possessed for Patel and Wiles, with the documents being found in files labeled “prohibited.” After the discovery, Director Patel has moved to fire ten current FBI employees involved in the subpoenas and has ended the bureau’s ability to categorize certain files as “prohibited.”

Patel called the discovery of the subpoenas and recording of Wiles’s meeting with her attorney “outrageous and deeply alarming.” He added, “It is outrageous and deeply alarming that the previous FBI leadership secretly subpoenaed my own phone records—along with those of now White House chief of staff Susie Wiles—using flimsy pretexts and burying the entire process in prohibited case files designed to evade all oversight.”

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